Gian Piero Gasperini at Roma Feels Emotions Before Atalanta Clash in Serie A

Claudio Ranieri stepped out of retirement last season to resume his position as Roma manager, lifting the team from the lower reaches of the table to secure a fifth place finish. He later assumed his current role, coinciding with Gasperini departing Atalanta following nine years in charge to lead the Giallorossi.

Ranieri, who resented Gasperini comments on the clubs transfer dealings, recently informed DAZN that every signing received the managers go ahead.

"For me it was truly an incredible surprise, because there has never, and I mean never, been a different tone between me and Ranieri," Gasperini shared with journalists.

"From that moment on, I only worried about two things: first, not responding, and second, even if I was involuntarily involved, trying not to create any kind of damage or difficulty for the team.

"I would have liked to try to prevent all this, but it was impossible for me. So from today I would really like us to talk about football."

No excuses

Ranieri guided Roma to just one point shy of Champions League qualification in the previous campaign. Gasperini current team sits sixth in the league table, trailing fourth place by three points.

"For me, for the team, for tomorrows game, the impact is zero," Gasperini stated. "We have tried to focus exclusively on the technical side, on the match itself, and for me it is essential not to create excuses or cause damage to the team, to the fans, any kind of damage."

Gasperini elaborated on the keys to his achievements at Atalanta.

"The anomaly of Atalanta was that for nine years they played in Europe and against the best Italian and European teams while making profits," Gasperini remarked.

"That was extraordinary, not only thanks to me, of course, but largely thanks to a club that was extremely capable of working in harmony with the coach.

"At a certain point that harmony changed, partly because the ownership changed, partly because the father, to whom I was certainly more attached, was no longer there."

A clearly moved Gasperini then rose and exited the press room.